Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-06-09

convinced me that there was some
thing seriously the matter With our lit
tie one.
bent over her and called her name.
but found her quite unconscious OF all
about her.
MY heavens, Jennie. how long has
she been this way?" l cried, now thor
cughly frightened.
'.She was taken about eight o'clock.
aRd has heen growing worse ever since;
but she has not seemed gate well for
several days"
l snatched my hat from the hall rack
and fastened to bring our family physi-
elan. Unfortunately. / found him
away from home, and had to walk
nearly mile before l found another,
SO that it was past twelve when l
reached home again, the doctor ac-
companying me.
l watched him as he bent over the
little sufferer, and hope almost died in
my breast as noted the expression of
his face.
1t was kindly, elderly face, and l
read further confirmation of my fears
in the plying glance he turned on Jen-
ME and me when he had completed
his examination.
do you think the case so very seri-
Gus. doctor?" l faltered.
Every, 1 fear" was the reply. "Your
little one has spinal fever in its most
virulent form, and deem it kinder to
prepare you at once for the worst. She
may recover; but there is little hope.
At our earnest request the kind old
doctor spent the remainder of the night
with us. How l lived through those
wretched hours SO calmly as l did l
shall never know.
l think the suddenness of the blow
must have dulled my sensibilities; or.
perhaps, it was the shadow of 4 lingcr-
ing hope that upheld me; for I could
not, would not. believe that the little
creature who had always been SO full
of life and spirit was now treading
near the threshold of death.
There seemed something so cruel, SO
awful, in the thought that could not
allow it to possess me.
just rs the first streaks of morning
light were chasing the shadows from
the room our old family doctor came
in. His wife had told him of my mid
night call, and. after taking short
rest, he had come to us to see if he
could still rende us any service.
The other doctor was still with us
when he came, and while the two
stood apart in earnest consultation, l
bent once more over my darlings crib
and tried to win glance of recogni-
ton from the open, restless blue eyes.
While bent over her thus, murmuring
endearing words and beseeching her
to look at me, our kindly old family
doctor laid restraining hand on my
shoulder, and drew me from my stoop-
ing posture.
Leave the little one in peace" said
he. ''Heaven help you, Jack, my poor
boy! She will never know you again
in this life
l broke away from him, and stobd
glaring like mailman. l believe l
was mad. Then my tongue was
loosed, and I poured forth such tor
rent of invectives as You may hope to
be ever spared from hearing. Icursed
the fates that had brought death iuto
the world; blasphemed my Maker; l
upbraidcd the whole medical fraterni-
ty rs Il horde of quacks whose pre-
tended skill always fails one at the SUI
preme moment.
Jennie, rs more gentle natures will
sometimes, bravely suppressed the
grief that was torturin Q her own breast
and joined with the two doctors in try
ing to soo:he and comfort me; but l
broke away from them all, and shut
myself in my library, where threw
myself prone on the floor. and lay
moaning and writhing in mental
agony that human language is made
quate to express.
Ny baby, my darling, the object that
l loved most on earth, was dying.
dying unconscious of all loving pres
ence about her! The last time she had
ever sprung to meet me l had rudely
repulsed her! The last conscious look
she had given me was when my feat
ures were distorted with anger, and
she had turned away her little face to
sob out her grief and fright on her
mothers breast! felt that my affiic-
ton was more than could bear, and
weakly resolved that l would rot bear
it. l believe should have committed
suicide if my grief had not stupefied
me SO that my weak will failed to put
the rash resolve into execution. l
seemed incapable of action. l could
only lie there and suffer. After awhile
I was conscious of others being in the
room with me. Then some one held
cup to my lips and babe me drink.
Mechanically I obeyed. After that
followed long hours of unconscious
ness, then l awoke in bed, feeling
dazed and uncomfortable, as one who
awakes from frightful dream. There
was a twilight darkness in the room,